In 2017 I completed my Masters from a mid tier univ. A 3.48 Gpa with some decent projects but my biggest shortcoming was being unable to secure an internship. Being new to the country it took me way longer to adjust to things and I was done with my masters without any good industry experience in my pocket. Another misstep I took was lack of LC practice, I was naive in thinking my academic knowledge with some CTCI was all I needed to crack interviews. Fast Forward to my graduation, all I could get was a test engineer job, and this is a bitter pill to swallow, with little or no programming involved. As I stare into this dark abyss of darkness that's my career. There are 3 options that I can see myself doing. a. Continue LC.( currently at 130 solved) Prep for interviews and look for that better job. Im pretty valuable where I currently work so I can continue working and studying. I continue being close to my gf, a person that I am seriously involved with and want a future with. Con: I continue being at a job where I have ABSOLUTELY nothing to show for my work. I work on excel sheets and Wireshark traces if anybody's wondering b. Go for a PhD. Perhaps gives me better chance to prepare for interviews, better profile, can add research to my portfolio. As my profile stands, I can think of targeting medium tier Univs. Con: Back to student budget, more struggling, is a Phd even worth it from a career perspective in CS? c. Scam my way to a job where I can at least get a programming experience under my portfolio.Currently theres a opportunity at a small company but they are offering lower than my current earnings and I need to relocate to the other coast. In your honest opinion whats the best approach that I can take currently. Appreciate help. TC: 75K if anyones interested
Leetcode
If you have a good mix of medium and hard problems in your leetcode , then you should be ready now for a Dev job.
I’m not a programmer, but someone who’s looking to become a SWE.. take the experience route. Wasting your time on LC and/or going back to school still equates to zero experience on your resume, which I’m finding out now, is the most important thing over credentials or problem solving skills. Go for the job at the small company and grind it out while doing LC in your free time
Keep doing LC and apply for interviews until you succeed. Luck is also a factor in interviewing. Also, wireshark logs at AT&T? 😮 NSA collaboration? Spying on customers?
internal Network testing
5'6" Indian has blessed this post. I feel confident already
Rule out b. The only good reason to do a PhD is wanting a career in research (academia or otherwise). Source - I have a PhD from a top 5 CS school
a
C. Work your way towards what you want to be. AT&T is not a bad company. Find your way to SWE jobs there over years. Not B for sure, don’t waste time. Not A, because the coding you learn in LC will just make you start over in a new company, while losing some time and not learning to be a good SWE by practice. Also, cheer up. Your job does not define you. Many people are working on jobs which were not exactly what they wanted. Especially right after school, it will be hard to find the job you want immediately, especially without internship experience. So, you will learn it on the job, give yourself some time, and be patient. You will get there, if you keep digging, you will converge to the job / role you want soon.
Thank you. I know you are putting it mildly and kindly for me but every word of encouragement helps. Just that knowing what my peers (my actual friends and batchmates not those on blind) are earning and working on makes things look a little bleak :)
Try interviewing.io for practice interviews as well as for jobs. Once you clear 2 practice interviews you can directly setup interview call with companies hiring on that platform and they do have some good companies
Continue with leetcode prep and reapply